Biography (according to Livy)
Servius Tullius was the son of a slave in the palace of Rome, and as a child he lived the life of a beggar. But one night, while he was asleep, Servius' head suddenly burst into flame. This event was witnessed by many people, and when the king and queen found out, they rushed to the scene. A servant was about to douse the flames, but the queen stopped him. Servius awoke, and the flames died out.
The queen told the king that the young boy had been chosen by the gods and that he would surely one day "prove a light in our darkness" (Livy).
And so from that day forward, Servius was treated like a prince of Rome, and he grew to be a man of great nature. The king Tarquin betrothed his daughter to him. Over time, Servius became well-known all over Rome, until he was one of the most famous people in the state.
Trouble began brewing in the 38th year of Tarquin's reign: the two sons of Tarquin's predecessor Ancus began plotting to seize the throne. They decided to kill Tarquin, and hired two desperately poor men to perform the deed.
The two men entered the palace courtyard and began to argue so loud that even the king, in the center of the palace, could hear them. They were summoned into his presence, and, as planned, while one of them presented his case, the other snuck behind the king and split his head with an axe. The two ran from the palace, but were caught by the guards.
The queen sent for Servius and told him that he was the rightful heir to the throne selected by the gods. She then rose to a tower of the palace and addressed the gathering people below. She stated that the king was fine, but that they should be loyal to Servius, who would surely bring justice to the perpetrators of this deed.
Servius secretly took the Tarquin's place, pretending that the king was still alive and being referred to for every decision. Meanwhile, Ancus' sons, their plan failed, left Rome to live elsewhere.
Over time, Servius attempted to strengthen his hold on the throne. He realized that, like Ancus' sons has resented Tarquin, Tarquin's sons would resent Servius, so he gave them his daughters as wives. Even so, jealousy of Servius' power continued to grow, to the point that the palace was "a hotbed of intrigue and treachery" (Livy).
Even so, Servius' power was even more assured by wars with Veii and other Etruscan communities and Servius' own military ability.
After the wars were through, Servius set out to contribute to the domestic society of Rome. He organized the census, which rated all people by rank and wealth; the Roman people were now organized into several different classes. This system helped to organize who would contribute what to the public good.
Due to the growing population fo Rome, Servius extended the state's boundaries and strenthened the city's defenses. After all this, Rome was now flourishing, due to increased size and settled internal affairs. As well, Servius had organized the creation of a temple for the goddess Diana.
But soon, a plot against Serviuswas brewing: there had been a prophecy that he who was to sacrifice a particular heifer at the temple of Diana would gain imperial power for his nation. A Sabine man took posession of this heifer, and took it to the temple. The priest there told him that he needed first to bathe in the Tiber before the ritual could commence, and while the Sabile man was off doing that, the priest sacrificed the animal himself. All of Rome delighted in this, and Servius' position on the throne was assured. However, Servius, having heard that Tarquin's sons were spreading rumors about him, asked the people to vote over his right to the throne. He was declared king by an overwhelming majority.
Years later, the aged Servius was in danger once again. One of Tarquin's sons, Tarquinius Superbus, roused to action by his wife, decided to take the throne from Servius. He did all he could to gain support, and when the time was right, he forced his way with armed guards into the Forum. He sat in the king's chair in the Senate house, and ordered that the senators come to him. To the assembled senators, Tarquin began to slander Servius, with tales of his birth as a slave and his ignoble rise to power. When Servius found out of this, he was infuriated, and rushed to the scene. He began to argue with Tarqin, supporters of both men surrounding.
Without warning, Tarquin lifted the aged Servius and threw him down the steps to the Senate House, where Servius died. Tarquin was hailed as king, and Servius' reign was over.
Biography (according to Livy)
Servius Tullius was the son of a slave in the palace of Rome, and as a child he lived the life of a beggar. But one night, while he was asleep, Servius' head suddenly burst into flame. This event was witnessed by many people, and when the king and queen found out, they rushed to the scene. A servant was about to douse the flames, but the queen stopped him. Servius awoke, and the flames died out.
The queen told the king that the young boy had been chosen by the gods and that he would surely one day "prove a light in our darkness" (Livy).
And so from that day forward, Servius was treated like a prince of Rome, and he grew to be a man of great nature. The king Tarquin betrothed his daughter to him. Over time, Servius became well-known all over Rome, until he was one of the most famous people in the state.
Trouble began brewing in the 38th year of Tarquin's reign: the two sons of Tarquin's predecessor Ancus began plotting to seize the throne. They decided to kill Tarquin, and hired two desperately poor men to perform the deed.
The two men entered the palace courtyard and began to argue so loud that even the king, in the center of the palace, could hear them. They were summoned into his presence, and, as planned, while one of them presented his case, the other snuck behind the king and split his head with an axe. The two ran from the palace, but were caught by the guards.
The queen sent for Servius and told him that he was the rightful heir to the throne selected by the gods. She then rose to a tower of the palace and addressed the gathering people below. She stated that the king was fine, but that they should be loyal to Servius, who would surely bring justice to the perpetrators of this deed.
Servius secretly took the Tarquin's place, pretending that the king was still alive and being referred to for every decision. Meanwhile, Ancus' sons, their plan failed, left Rome to live elsewhere.
Over time, Servius attempted to strengthen his hold on the throne. He realized that, like Ancus' sons has resented Tarquin, Tarquin's sons would resent Servius, so he gave them his daughters as wives. Even so, jealousy of Servius' power continued to grow, to the point that the palace was "a hotbed of intrigue and treachery" (Livy).
Even so, Servius' power was even more assured by wars with Veii and other Etruscan communities and Servius' own military ability.
After the wars were through, Servius set out to contribute to the domestic society of Rome. He organized the census, which rated all people by rank and wealth; the Roman people were now organized into several different classes. This system helped to organize who would contribute what to the public good.
Due to the growing population fo Rome, Servius extended the state's boundaries and strenthened the city's defenses. After all this, Rome was now flourishing, due to increased size and settled internal affairs. As well, Servius had organized the creation of a temple for the goddess Diana.
But soon, a plot against Serviuswas brewing: there had been a prophecy that he who was to sacrifice a particular heifer at the temple of Diana would gain imperial power for his nation. A Sabine man took posession of this heifer, and took it to the temple. The priest there told him that he needed first to bathe in the Tiber before the ritual could commence, and while the Sabile man was off doing that, the priest sacrificed the animal himself. All of Rome delighted in this, and Servius' position on the throne was assured. However, Servius, having heard that Tarquin's sons were spreading rumors about him, asked the people to vote over his right to the throne. He was declared king by an overwhelming majority.
Years later, the aged Servius was in danger once again. One of Tarquin's sons, Tarquinius Superbus, roused to action by his wife, decided to take the throne from Servius. He did all he could to gain support, and when the time was right, he forced his way with armed guards into the Forum. He sat in the king's chair in the Senate house, and ordered that the senators come to him. To the assembled senators, Tarquin began to slander Servius, with tales of his birth as a slave and his ignoble rise to power. When Servius found out of this, he was infuriated, and rushed to the scene. He began to argue with Tarqin, supporters of both men surrounding.
Without warning, Tarquin lifted the aged Servius and threw him down the steps to the Senate House, where Servius died. Tarquin was hailed as king, and Servius' reign was over.